Overview

• Four former British special forces soldiers, including Veterans Minister Alistair Carns, completed a record-breaking Everest ascent in under five days using xenon gas and hypoxic tents for pre-acclimatisation.
• The expedition, organised by Furtenbach Adventures, aimed to raise funds for veterans’ charities supporting children of fallen service members.
• Nepal's tourism authority has launched an investigation into the use of xenon gas, which lacks proven efficacy and is banned by WADA for athletic performance enhancement.
• Critics warn that rapid climbs using xenon could undermine Sherpa livelihoods by reducing demand for traditional guiding and support services.
• Mountaineering bodies have issued safety warnings, noting that xenon’s effects at extreme altitudes remain unproven and potentially dangerous.